The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) has denied the widely circulating report in Anambra state that the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) governorship flagbearer for the Nov 16 election in the state, Dr Willie Obiano has been disqualified to contest in the coming poll over voter registration mixup.
Reacting sharply over the story, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC), Prof Chukwuemeka Onukogu washed his hands from “the rumour”, stressing that the matter was not only beyond him, but was not known to him at all.
He saw the issue as an unnecessary distraction from the mounting pressure of planning a hitch-free, transparent and credible governorship poll for the state come Nov 16.
Onukogu actually admitted having received a number of calls from other stakeholders who wee seeking clarifications on the matter.
The Director General of Obianor Campaign Organization, Chief Joe-Martins Uzodike was more emphatic; he said there was no such situation as double registration on the part of Obianor. Describing him as a very articulate patriotic citizen who would not do anything untoward, Uzodike said it was “a false rumour being spread in the Internet by some political opponents from other parties who are jittery over the landslide victory Dr Obianor would record against them…”
He used the opportunity to invite every citizen to their scheduled flag-off tomorrow which he predicts would be earth quaking.
Some written mateerials making the rounds in the state since the weekend, copies of some were sent to the Guardian had accused Dr Obianor of double registration, one in Lagos where he lived before joining the Anambra guber race, and another registration in his native Aguleri, Anambra East council area of the state. This, according to the write-up contravenes Sec 12(2) of the Electoral Act 2010(As Amended) which states: “A Person shall not register in more than one registration centre or register more than once in the same registration centre.” Section 12(3): “A person who contravenes the provision of subsection(2) of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding N100,000 or imprisonment…..”
It went further to note that “Obiano should have applied to the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Anambra State for his name to be entered on the transferred voter’s list for his constituency inline with Section 13(1) of our Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended):
“A person who before the election is resident in a constituency other than the one in which he was registered may apply to the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the State where he is currently resident for his name to be entered on the transferred voters, list for the constituency”.
“Based on the above legal provisions, Willie Obiano the APGA candidate stands Disqualified by virtue of Multiple Registration.
However, Uzodike noted without conceding that in the event of any such situation, it would not be the duty of any politician other than a court of competent jurisdiction to pronounce the person guilty of double registration.
